Steering



Feb. 27, 192s.

H. E. SHELLEH.

STEERING WHEEL:

FILED DEC. I4. 192i Patented Feb. 27, i923.

UNlTEDsTATEs PATENT OFFICIELA HARRY E. SHELLER, OF PORTLAND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SHELLER WOOD RIM MANUFACTURING HCOMPANY, OF PORTLAND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

s'rnnnriva`r WHEEL. y

Application filed December 14, 1921. Serial No. 522,264.

To all L0 wm may concern Be it known that I,-HAnn'r EQSHLLER,

a citizen of `the United Sta-tes of America,

residing at Portland, in the county of Jay and State of Indiana,r have invented cer# tain new and usefullmprovements in Steer-` ing Vheels, of which the following is a specification. f

The invention relates to improvements in tion thereof whereby the ymaterial of the rim flows into said pockets to assist in anchoring the rim in position.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a single embodiment of my invention, in which Figure l is an elevation of the wheel and spokes.

Figurev 2 is a sectional view `of one form of the invention. i

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form; and,

Figure 4- is a transverse section. l

Referring now `more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1- designates the rim of a steering wheel, which is preferably composed of vulcanized rubber, and other like plastic materials. When the material from whichthe rim. is formed are of substantially uniform width throughout their length, but at the outer ends of said spokes I provide pockets 3 whiclrare formed by removing a party ofthe material forming the spokes. These pockets are ofk a curved formation, providing spaces receiving the filling material 4. The pockets or cutout portions in the sides of the spokes 2, as will be observed, are located so as to the spokes in position.

the invention toprovide be within the end of each spoke, providing shoulders 5"at the ends of each spoke. It

vwill be seen that the material freely ows within the exposed pockets in the side edge ofv thespoke during vulcanization, and of l course kwhen hardened by a vulcanization provides an efficient means for anchoring In the modified form of my invention shown 1n Figure 3 I may also form within the spoke 2 an aperture 6 located betweenA the cutout portions or pockets 3, which aperture likewise receives material constituting the rim and provides additionalmeans for anchoring the spoke tothe rim. This opening or aperture 6 may be dispensed with if desired, and is preferably only used when.

a wheel requiring very heavy dutyis employed.

It will be appreciated that theuspokes 2 are of rsubstantially uniform width throughout theirv length, and if anything, are slightly smaller at their ends than at the spider. bedded in the plastic rim and these ends are not of an enlarged width which permits the plastic material to flow in and around shoulders serving to correctly anchor said spokes in position. It is thought that it will be appreciated that the rim l is of much greater strength where the embedded end portions of the spokes are not enlarged,vbut to do this, it is necessary to form the pockets in the sides of each spoke.

Having thus` described my invention, what I claim is:

rAcsteering wheel, comprising a hub, of a plurality of metallic` spokes yradiating therefrom, the outer ends thereof being of a width not exceeding the widthy of the in terinediate portions of said spokes, a plastic rim in which the outer ends of said spokes are embedded, said spokes being formed along each side edge intermediate the ends thereof with cutout portions providing pockets having opposed shoulder surfaces,

thepockets lin said spokes being adapted to receive the plastic material of the rim to anchor the rim to said spokes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY SHELLER.

The ends of the spokes are em- 

